Artificial leg.



O. A. WATSON.

ARTIPIUIAL LEG APPLICATION FILED HOV.2,1908.

- Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIN A. WATSON,,OF COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI.

ARTIFICIAL LE G.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIN A. WATSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Lowndes and State of Mississippi,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Legs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawlngs.

This invention relates to improvements in siirtificial limbs and more particularly wooden egs.

The object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character and thereby render them less expensive, and more durable and comfortable in use.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of an artificial leg constructed in accordance with the invention; Fi 2 is a vertical longitudinal section throng the same; Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section.

In the drawings 1 denotes the leg member, 2 the foot member and 3 a resilient plate or spring which serves to connect said members and also to maintain the foot member in roper relation with respect to the leg memer. The latter may have a socket in its top to receive the stump of the limb and is connected to the same by any suitable means. The lower end of said leg member is beveled downwardly and inwardly from its front and rear faces to provide converging faces 4, 5 which give the said end of the leg member a V-shape when viewed from the side.

The foot member 2 which may also be of any suitable form and construction has in its upper end a substantially V-shaped socket to receive the similar shaped lower end of the leg member. Said V-shaped socket in the foot member extends transversely and has its inclined faces 6, 7 disposed at a greater angle with res ect to each other than the faces 4, 5 on the ower end of the leg member so that the foot member may swing in a forward Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 2, 190B.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

Serial No. 460,769.

and rear direction relative to the leg member. The joint spring 3 is in the form of a rectangular plate of sheet steel or other resilient metal and is arran ed in vertical slots 9, 10 formed respectively in the center of the lower end of the leg member and at the bottom of the V-shaped socket in the foot member. Screws or similar fastenings 11 are passed transversely in a forward and rearward direction into the members 1, 2 and through the spring 3 to retain its ends in the slots 9, 10. By shaping the parts of the joint as shown and providing the flat spring 3 as a connecting member and also as a foot piece actuating member, V-shaped spaces 12 are provided between the opposin faces 4, 6 and the opposin faces 5, 7 of the two members, when the Iatter are in their normal osition so that the two members can articuate properly when the wearer is walking.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides an exceedingly simple artificial leg which may be produced at a very small cost and when once adjusted will need no further attention.

There will be practically no wear u on the parts of the device and no necessity For frequently readjusting and oiling the oint as in more complicated devices of this character.

The spring serves as an effective resilient connection between the two members and maintains them in proper position with respect to each other so that the foot will not drag and tend to trip the wearer and its movement will roduce no noise.

Having thus escribed the invention what is claimed is:

An artificial limb comprising a leg member having the front and rear faces of its lower end downwardly and inwardly inclined, a foot member having a substantially V-shaped socket disposed transversely in its top to receive the lower end of the leg member, and a fiat spring plate secured in said members to pivotally and resiliently unite said members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OLIN A. WATSON.

Witnesses:

J. ATER, J. H. Evans. 

